Now over 500 membersand organizations involved.

SAFE USE, SAFE STORAGE, SAFE DISPOSAL

The three pillars ofColorado's prevention efforts.

CONSORTIUM LAUNCHES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Focuses on Safe Use,Safe Storage, and Safe Disposal.

THE COLORADO PLAN TO REDUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

Prescription drug misuse and abuse is a serious problem both nationally and here in Colorado. In 2016, overdose deaths involving opioids numbered approximately 42,000 nationally; there were 504 fatal overdoses involving opioids in Colorado that year. Such deaths are now more common than alcohol-related traffic fatalities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call prescription drug overdose deaths one of the four most serious epidemics facing the nation. As recently as 2010-2011, Colorado ranked #2 in the nation among young adults ages 12-24 for self-admitted, non-medical use of prescription painkillers. Enough opioid painkillers are dispensed by pharmacies in the United States to supply each and every American citizen with enough painkilling pills to take one every four hours, around the clock, for a month. To address this problem, Colorado convened experts from across the state to create the Colorado Plan to Reduce Rx Abuse (see below/right for a downloadable PDF copy of the plan).

COLORADO LAUNCHES TAKE MEDS SERIOUSLY PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

In February 2015, the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, in conjunction with Webb Strategic Communications and Zeto Creative, launched a statewide public awareness campaign called TakeMedsSeriously.org. The campaign has three key messages: Safe Use, Safe Storage, and Safe Disposal of prescription medications; as well as informative statistics, real life stories from affected families, a quiz to test your knowledge, and useful links to resources that can help people find ways to protect themselves and their loved ones from the problems and consequences of misuse or abuse.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

HEROIN IN COLORADO

STRATEGIC PLAN

With assistance from the National Governor’s Association (NGA) Policy Academy to Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse, experts from across Colorado gathered in 2013 and created a statewide Strategic Plan to address this problem. Download a copy of the plan below.

COLORADO LEGISLATURE

A committee of state lawmakers is meeting during the summer and fall of 2018 to learn more about the opioid crisis in Colorado and discuss strategies and possible policies to address the crisis. Visit the committee’s page to learn more and see a schedule of upcoming hearings.